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Seems as though I read something on this, the usage of gifts and presents.
Where I grew up we called what was given on Christmas a "present." For all other occasions we used the word "gift." I have no idea why.
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(12-24-2015, 08:10 AM)Erthona Wrote: Seems as though I read something on this, the usage of gifts and presents.
Where I grew up we called what was given on Christmas a "present." For all other occasions we used the word "gift." I have no idea why.
dale
A quick Google indicates "gift" is Germanic-Anglo-Saxon, while "present" is from Latin via French. (According to one source, "gift" in English had two syllables for a while and fell back to one from metric convenience or necessity in "Hudibras," 1656, specifically the phrase "look a gift horse in the mouth.") If there's any difference at all in meaning, "gift" seems to align with "give" and emphasize change of ownership, while "present" aligns with the verb to present, emphasizing a formal or ceremonious [act of] offering (which the recipient could conceivably reject?) Maybe there's a slight aura of humility to "present" that's lacking in "gift" - a gift is between equals while a present is from low to high?
As to your "why" question, perhaps the formal and ceremonial nature of the Christmas situation compared with, say, a birthday or anniversary? (Where I grew up, we used "present" for anything wrapped - Christmas present, birthday present, wedding present. "Gift" for any of those would have seemed a bit snooty, or found in advertising to add a bit of class.)
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My own usage is that presents are personal, to family and friends while a gift is more removed, a charitable gift or raffle gift.
I have no idea if this is accurate but I like it:
Quote:What is the difference between a Present and a Gift?
By Mrs. Rajam, Chennai, Tamil Nadu – India – 11th May 2007.
Many of us tend to use the two words interchangeably in most contexts. Of the two, present is the more informal. The two words are used with things given to other people without expectation of return or compensation. It is not uncommon to hear people say, I gave him a gift/present on his birthday. Both the sentences are grammatically acceptable. Careful users of the language make a distinction between the two words. A Gift tends to be much more valuable than a present. It usually passes from the rich to the poor, from the high to the low. A present, on the other hand, passes between equals or from the inferior to the superior.
• The children brought a present for the Minister.
• I gave him a pen as a present.
• The foundation is planning to gift the land to the society.
• He made a gift of two million dollars to his old university.
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i give without reason or thought; i gift. alms, a hot meal, a warm jacket,
i give presents with thought to the recipient, to a loved one i present something special.
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where i grew up if you called anything a gift you would be judged as being a bit up yourself. i think this says more about where i grew up than anything else. i mean, using three syllable words was often frowned upon.
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we never knew what a syllable was 
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Google usage statistics:
"Christmas present" = 22.2 million ("Xmas present" = 1.0 million)
"Christmas gift" = 64.5 million ("Xmas gift" = 1.6 million)
"Birthday present" = 15.0 million
"Birthday gift" = 14.7 million
"Christmas haggis" = 584,000
"Christmas billy" = 27,900
"Christmas wanker" = 27,900
also:
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(12-24-2015, 06:54 PM)rayheinrich Wrote: Google usage statistics:
"Christmas present" = 22.2 million ("Xmas present" = 1.0 million)
"Christmas gift" = 64.5 million ("Xmas gift" = 1.6 million)
"Birthday present" = 15.0 million
"Birthday gift" = 14.7 million
"Christmas haggis" = 584,000
"Ray of Christmas " = 27,900
"Christmas wanker" = 27,900 Fixd/mod
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Correlation or coincidence?
"Ray of Christmas " = 27,900
"Christmas wanker" = 27,900
I sez correlation!
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I always say presents for Birthday and gifts for Christmas, but didn't realize that's what I was doing until this thread. Never had negative or positive connotations associated with either. Now I am wondering if I have accidentally been offending people by using the "wrong" one at the wrong time.
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(12-25-2015, 02:23 AM)Erthona Wrote: Correlation or coincidence?
"Ray of Christmas " = 27,900
"Christmas wanker" = 27,900
I sez correlation! Billy, as usual, was wanking around with the stats.
How could you ever doubt that in all things wank, there can be only one.
The original was:
"Christmas haggis" = 584,000
"Christmas billy" = 27,900
"Christmas wanker" = 27,900
The actual count for the ray one is:
"Ray of Christmas " = 122,000 results
(12-25-2015, 05:02 AM)Quixilated Wrote: I always say presents for Birthday and gifts for Christmas, but didn't realize that's what I was doing until this thread. Never had negative or positive connotations associated with either. Now I am wondering if I have accidentally been offending people by using the "wrong" one at the wrong time. Yeah, makes you wonder. I always used 'presents' for solid objects and 'gifts' for ephemeral things.
But you can see from the 'Birthday' stats, it's evenly split:
"Birthday present" = 15.0 million
"Birthday gift" = 14.7 million
What surprised me was how uneven the Christmas one was.
I guess one really should use 'gift' for things xmas.
"Christmas present" = 22.2 million ("Xmas present" = 1.0 million)
"Christmas gift" = 64.5 million ("Xmas gift" = 1.6 million)
Ray
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Yes, but how does it explain this
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now that's the dog's bollox 
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(12-25-2015, 08:37 AM)billy Wrote: now that's the dog's bollox Is that better or worse than coming back with a severed human hand?
![[Image: YojimboDogHumanHand.jpg]](http://wordbiscuit.com/im10/YojimboDogHumanHand.jpg)
In the opening sequence of Akira Kurosawa's famous movie "Yojimbo",
a dog trots by carrying a human hand in its mouth. Oh those samurai!
Toshiro Mifune, the lead actor, is to be worshiped, what an actor.
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What good is a severe is a severed human hand?
dale
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The goal is not to obfuscate that which is clear, but make clear that which isn't.
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(12-26-2015, 10:46 AM)Erthona Wrote: What good is a severe is a severed human hand?
dale ?
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